APSP works with citizens and communities in promoting the quality delivery of social protection programs. The implementation of social protection programs in Africa is mainly through a top-down approach. Many governments have initiated social protection programs with minimal participation of citizens and the public. The result is that many citizens and communities remain unaware of government programs on social protection. Because of the lack of awareness of existing social protection programs, many beneficiaries are disenfranchised, and may not be on social protection programs even when they deserve to be. APSP promotes awareness among communities on existing government social protection programs in their countries and communities.

One of the pillars of APSP work is social accountability. According to the World Bank, Social accountability is an approach to governance that involves citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) in public decision making (World Bank 2004).  Social Accountability interventions enhance the capacity of citizens and civil society actors to articulate their needs to governments and service providers. Through our social accountability program, APSP works with communities to bring the perspective of citizens and CSOs to government activities, including policy-making, the management of public finances and resources, and service delivery. The program allows civil society organizations, communities, and beneficiaries to participate in monitoring the public sector and giving feedback on government performance. APSP  uses a social accountability tool to monitor various service delivery parameters of cash transfers.